Foldable cot



Feb. 11, 1941. s. R. BRADY 2,231,108

FOLDABLE COT Filed May 2, 1959 Patented 'Feb. 11, 1941 PATENT OFFICE FOLDABLE COT Sidney "Robert Brady,"London, England, assignor to Henry W. Peabody and Company of London Limited, London, England Application May 2, 1939, Serial No. 271,251 In Great Britain May 16, 1938 2 Claims.

- This invention relates to a cot which is adapted to be folded so as to be conveniently portable. For this purpose the body of the cot is constructed of a flexible material, for example canvas, cloth, leather or other flexible fabric.

According to one feature of the invention the base of the cot is provided with a longitudinal flexible extension pivotable about a lateral edge of said base and serving to form, when raised and curved over, the head end of the cot as well as a hood at said end. Easily releasable attachment means or members may be provided for maintaining said hood in position. The extension may be provided with stiffening means if it is also constructed of flexible material or it may itself consist of a semi-rigid flexible substance.

According to a further feature of the invention the said extension and part or parts of the body of the cot are adapted so that a stiffening or reinforcement member may readily be added to or withdrawn from said part or parts. For this purpose the said parts are made in the form of pockets into which strips or sheets of stiffening material may be inserted and suitable means, for

example a pocket flap secured by press button fasteners, may be provided for preventing the said reinforcement from falling out of the pockets.

A foldable stand or trestle may be provided so so as to support the cot above the level of the floor.

One embodiment of the invention is illustrated by way of example in the accompanying drawing in which:

Fig. 1 is a view of the cot with the sides folded;

the foot end collapsed and the other parts opened out;

Fig. 2 is a perspective view of the assembled cot;

Fig. 3 shows the cot completely folded;

Fig. 4 is a detail view of a modification.

In said drawing in which like reference numerals denote like parts, the cot comprises a base I consisting of a rectangular piece of stiffening 5 material, for example plywood, or pasteboard, covered on both sides with canvas or cloth or other suitable fabric. The end or foot of the out is formed as a pocket ll extending between and connected to'the side portions 4 and into which 50 can be inserted a sheet of rigid stiffening material secured in position by a flap fitted with eyelet members I! co-operating with press button elements provided on the outside of the pocket. The top edges! of the longitudinal sides 65 def the cot are also provided with reinforcement members in the form of rigid rods for example of wood or other light rigid material.

The side portions 4 of the cot are of flexible material, e. g. canvas and are provided with curved side flaps pivotally secured to the upper edges of the sides 4 and reinforced by sheets of stiffening material, said flaps being provided along one edge with flexible strips on which are eyelet members 9 intended to co-operate with press button elements III on the outside of an extension 8 when the latm ter is curved over to form the head end and a hood and the flaps 3 are lifted up to form side pieces in the position shown in Fig. 2.

An extension 8 is pivotable about the front edge of the base I and made in the form of a pocket 15 with an opening along said edge to enable a sheet of semi-rigid stiffening material, for example pasteboard to be inserted into said pocket. When said extension is raised and bent over to form the head end of the cot and a hood and the side flaps go 3 are raised to bring their curved edges over the curved edges of the extension 8 the eyelet members 9 can be made to engage with the press button elements I!) so as to secure the hoodto the flaps and maintain the said hood and flaps in their proper relative position for use.

The cot comprises a strap Sbetween the two flaps 3 which assists in holding the structure firm when assembled (Fig. 2) and which may also be used as a handle to carry the cot in the folded 30 position (Fig. 3).

An extension 13 is provided at the foot of the cot which when drawn over the top in the assembled position (Fig. 2) is intended to be used a as an apron or covering. 5

The free end of said apron can be secured to the cot by means of eyelet members I co-operating with press button elements I 5.

Towards the median part of the sides of the 0 cot and immediately beneath the reinforcing rods are located cut out portions IE to serve as handles by means of which the out can be conveniently carried when in its assembled position. A strap 6 and buckle I are also provided for holding the cot securely in its folded up position.

In order to dismantle the cot the stiffening sheet is withdrawn from the pocket II to collapse the foot end and the flaps 3 and sides I released from the extension 8 which is then turned over through 90 so as to lie flat on the bottom I. The extension I! is then similarly folded over to lie on the bottom after which the flaps 3 are folded inwards and the side portions 4 are folded over by lowering the reinforced edges 2 on to the base I as shown in Fig. 3. The folded assembly is secured by means of the strap 6 and buckle I.

Fig. 4 shows a modified form of embodiment wherein instead of press button elements on the hood and side flaps, the hood and the flexible edge strips on the side flaps are provided with stringers for a sliding clasp fastener together with two clasps, one on each side of the extension, so that when the extension is bent over to form the hood and the side flaps raised the clasps can be drawn over the stringers to secure the hood to the flaps.

I claim:

1. A foldable cot of flexible material comprising a base, reinforced sides connected to the longitudinal edges of said base, pocket-like side flaps on said sides reinforced with sheet material and having curved edges continuous with end edges oi said sides, a member connected to one end edge of said base and extending between and attachable to said sides and adapted to form the head end of the cot and a hood, said member being formed as a pocket containing a sheet of semirigid material capable of being bent to lie along said end edges of said sides and said curved edges of said flaps, flexible strips along said end and curved edges adapted to overlap said member formed as a pocket, easily releasable attachment means whereby said flexible strips may be se cured to said member formed as a pocket containing semirigid material, and a reinforced foot end secured to said base and sides.

2. A cot according to claim 1 comprising also a flexible inextensible member extending between and secured to the two sides, said inextensible member being so dimensioned and positioned as to prevent lateral displacement of said sides and thereby relieve strain on the easily releasable attachment means when the cot is erected and also to form a loop-like handle when the cot is folded.

SIDNEY ROBERT BRADY. 

